Best Circuit Judge
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Henry J. Friendly served as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1959 to 1986. He is notable for his consistently moderate and pragmatic approach to legal interpretation, earning him widespread respect among legal scholars and fellow judges. Friendly’s decisions significa...
Frank M. Johnson Jr. was a federal judge serving on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals during the mid-20th century. He is notable for his significant contributions to civil rights law. His rulings in the 1950s and 60s, particularly regarding school desegregation and authorization of the Selma march,...
Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit from 1981 to 2017, a leading architect of the law and economics movement and one of the most cited legal scholars in history.
Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit since 1985, known as a leading proponent of law and economics and strict textualism in statutory interpretation.
Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit since 1995, appointed by Bill Clinton, regarded as a prominent liberal appellate jurist frequently considered for the Supreme Court.
Senior Second Circuit judge who served for decades and is recognized for influential opinions shaping federal criminal law and appellate procedure.
Conservative Fourth Circuit judge (1991–2006) regarded as a leading originalist jurist who resigned from the bench to become Boeing's general counsel.
First woman appointed to a U.S. federal appellate court, joining the Sixth Circuit in 1934 after becoming the first woman elected to the Ohio Supreme Court.
Chief Judge of the D.C. Circuit whose 2016 Supreme Court nomination by Obama was blocked by Senate Republicans; confirmed as U.S. Attorney General in 2021.
U.S. Court of Appeals (D.C. Circuit) judge whose 1987 Supreme Court nomination was rejected by the Senate, reshaping judicial confirmation politics.
First woman appointed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (1979), later continuing service on the Eleventh Circuit after the 1981 circuit reorganization.
Federal judge who sentenced Julius and Ethel Rosenberg to death for espionage in 1953 and later served as Chief Judge of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit (2007–2017) known for provocative, often libertarian opinions who resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations in 2017.
